arXiv subjects

Ulf R. Pedersen

Publications and source records attributed to Ulf R. Pedersen.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

Computing Gibbs free energy differences by interface pinning

We propose an approach for computing the Gibbs free energy difference between phases of a material. The method is based on the determination of the average force acting on interfaces that separate the two phases of interest. This force, which depends on the Gibbs free energy difference between the phases, is computed by applying an external harmonic field that couples to a parameter which specifies the two phases. Validated first for the Lennard-Jones model, we demonstrate the flexibility, efficiency and practical applicability of this approach by computing the melting temperatures of sodium, magnesium, aluminum and silicon at ambient pressure using density functional theory. Excellent agreement with experiment is found for all four elements, except for silicon, for which the melting temperature is, in agreement with previous simulations, seriously underestimated.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2011

Pressure-energy correlations in liquids. V. Isomorphs in generalized Lennard-Jones systems

This series of papers is devoted to identifying and explaining the properties of strongly correlating liquids, i.e., liquids with more than 90% correlation between their virial W and potential energy U fluctuations in the NVT ensemble. Paper IV [N. Gnan et al., J. Chem. Phys. v131, 234504 (2009)] showed that strongly correlating liquids have "isomorphs", which are curves in the phase diagram along which structure, dynamics, and some thermodynamic properties are invariant in reduced units. In the present paper, using the fact that reduced-unit radial distribution functions are isomorph invariant, we derive an expression for the shapes of isomorphs in the WU phase diagram of generalized Lennard-Jones systems of one or more types of particles. The isomorph shape depends only on the Lennard-Jones exponents; thus all isomorphs of standard Lennard-Jones systems (with exponents 12 and 6) can be scaled onto to a single curve. Two applications are given. One is testing the prediction that the solid-liquid coexistence curve follows an isomorph by comparing to recent simulations by Ahmed and Sadus [J. Chem. Phys. v131, 174504 (2009)]. Excellent agreement is found on the liquid side of the coexistence, whereas the agreement is worse on the solid side. A second application is the derivation of an approximate equation of state for generalized Lennard-Jones systems by combining the isomorph theory with the Rosenfeld-Tarazona expression for the temperature dependence of potential energy on isochores. It is shown that the new equation of state agrees well with simulations.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2010

Crystallization of the Lewis-Wahnström ortho-terphenyl model

Crystallization is observed during long molecular dynamics simulations of bent trimers, a molecular model proposed by Lewis and Wahnström for ortho-terphenyl. In the crystal, the three spheres that make up the rigid molecule sit near sites of a body centered cubic lattice, the trimer bond angle being almost optimal for this structure. The crystal exhibits orientational disorder with the molecules aligned randomly along the three Cartesian axis (an example of cubatic orientational order). The rotational and translational mobilities exhibit only modest decreases on crystallization, by factors of 10 and 3 respectively. The rotational relaxation does change from Debye-like in the liquid to large angle jumps in the crystal. We consider the origin of the superior glass forming ability of the the trimer over the monatomic liquid.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2010

A repulsive reference potential reproducing the dynamics of a liquid with attractions

A well-known result of liquid state theory is that the structure of dense fluids is mainly determined by repulsive forces. The WCA potential, which cuts intermolecular potentials at their minima, is therefore often used as a reference. However, this reference gives quite wrong results for the viscous dynamics of the Kob-Andersen binary Lennard-Jones liquid [Berthier and Tarjus, Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 170601 (2009)]. We show that repulsive inverse-power law potentials provide a useful reference for this liquid by reproducing its structure, dynamics, and isochoric heat capacity.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2010

Strongly correlating liquids and their isomorphs

This paper summarizes the properties of strongly correlating liquids, i.e., liquids with strong correlations between virial and potential energy equilibrium fluctuations at constant volume. We proceed to focus on the experimental predictions for strongly correlating glass-forming liquids. These predictions include i) density scaling, ii) isochronal superposition, iii) that there is a single function from which all frequency-dependent viscoelastic response functions may be calculated, iv) that strongly correlating liquids are approximately single-parameter liquids with close to unity Prigogine-Defay ratio, and v) that the fictive temperature initially decreases for an isobaric temperature up jump. The "isomorph filter", which allows one to test for universality of theories for the non-Arrhenius temperature dependence of the relaxation time, is also briefly discussed.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2009

The Geometry of Slow Structural Fluctuations in a Supercooled Binary Alloy

The liquid structure of a glass-forming binary alloy is studied using molecular dynamics simulations. The analysis combines common neighbour analysis with the geometrical approach of Frank and Kasper to establish that the supercooled liquid contains extended clusters characterised by the same short range order as the crystal. Fluctuations in these clusters exhibit strong correlations with fluctuations in the inherent structure energy. The steep increase in the heat capacity on cooling is, thus, directly coupled to the growing fluctuations of the Frank-Kasper clusters. The relaxation of particles in the clusters dominates the slow tail of the self-intermediate scattering function.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2009

"Isomorphs" in liquid state diagrams

A liquid is termed strongly correlating if its virial and potential energy thermal equilibrium fluctuations in the NVT ensemble are more than 90% correlated [Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 015701 (2008)]. The fluctuations of a strongly correlating liquid are well approximated by those of an inverse power-law intermolecular potential. Building on this fact we here define "isomorphic lines" in the state diagram of a strongly correlating liquid. It is shown from computer simulations of the Kob-Andersen binary Lennard-Jones liquid that no aging is associated with jumps between two isomorphic points. Isomorphic state points have the same excess entropy, the same reduced average relaxation time, the same (reduced) dynamics, and the same scaled radial distribution functions. Finally we calculate the equation for isomorphs in the virial / potential energy diagram for Lennard-Jones type liquids and show that all such 12-6 liquids have the same isomorphs; these may be scaled into a master isomorph.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2009

Estimating the density scaling exponent of viscous liquids from specific heat and bulk modulus data

It was recently shown by computer simulations that a large class of liquids exhibits strong correlations in their thermal fluctuations of virial and potential energy [Pedersen et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 015701 (2008)]. Among organic liquids the class of strongly correlating liquids includes van der Waals liquids, but excludes ionic and hydrogen-bonding liquids. The present note focuses on the density scaling of strongly correlating liquids, i.e., the fact their relaxation time tau at different densities rho and temperatures T collapses to a master curve according to the expression tau propto F(rho^gamma/T) [Schroder et al., arXiv:0803.2199]. We here show how to calculate the exponent gamma from bulk modulus and specific heat data, either measured as functions of frequency in the metastable liquid or extrapolated from the glass and liquid phases to a common temperature (close to the glass transition temperature). Thus an exponent defined from the response to highly nonlinear parameter changes may be determined from linear response measurements.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2009

Strong pressure-energy correlations in liquids as a configuration space property: Simulations of temperature down jumps and crystallization

Computer simulations recently revealed that several liquids exhibit strong correlations between virial and potential energy equilibrium fluctuations in the NVT ensemble [U. R. Pedersen {\it et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 100}, 015701 (2008)]. In order to investigate whether these correlations are present also far from equilibrium constant-volume aging following a temperature down jump from equilibrium was simulated for two strongly correlating liquids, an asymmetric dumbbell model and Lewis-Wahnstr{ö}m OTP, as well as for SPC water that is not strongly correlating. For the two strongly correlating liquids virial and potential energy follow each other closely during the aging towards equilibrium. For SPC water, on the other hand, virial and potential energy vary with little correlation as the system ages towards equilibrium. Further proof that strong pressure-energy correlations express a configuration space property comes from monitoring pressure and energy during the crystallization (reported here for the first time) of supercooled Lewis-Wahnstr{ö}m OTP at constant temperature.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2008

Pressure-energy correlations in liquids. I. Results from computer simulations

We show that a number of model liquids at fixed volume exhibit strong correlations between equilibrium fluctuations of the configurational parts of (instantaneous) pressure and energy. We present detailed results for thirteen systems, showing in which systems these correlations are significant. These include Lennard-Jones liquids (both single- and two-component) and several other simple liquids, but not hydrogen-bonding liquids like methanol and water, nor the Dzugutov liquid which has significant contributions to pressure at the second nearest neighbor distance. The pressure-energy correlations, which for the Lennard-Jones case are shown to also be present in the crystal and glass phases, reflect an effective inverse power-law potential dominating fluctuations, even at zero and slightly negative pressure. An exception to the inverse-power law explanation is a liquid with hard-sphere repulsion and a square-well attractive part, where a strong correlation is observed, but only after time-averaging. The companion paper [arXiv:0807.0551] gives a thorough analysis of the correlations, with a focus on the Lennard-Jones liquid, and a discussion of some experimental and theoretical consequences.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2008

Pressure-energy correlations in liquids. II. Analysis and consequences

We present an analysis and discuss consequences of the strong correlations of the configurational parts of pressure and energy in their equilibrium fluctuations at fixed volume reported for simulations of several liquids in the companion paper [arXiv:0807.0550]. The analysis concentrates specifically on the single-component Lennard-Jones system. We demonstrate that the potential may be replaced, at fixed volume, by an effective power-law, but not because only short distance encounters dominate the fluctuations. Indeed, contributions to the fluctuations are associated with the whole first peak of the RDF, as we demonstrate by an analysis of the spatially resolved covariance matrix. The reason the effective power-law works so well depends on going beyond single-pair effects and on the constraint of fixed volume. In particular, a better approximation to the potential includes a linear term, which contributes to the mean values of potential energy and virial, but not to their fluctuations. We also study the T=0 limit of the crystalline phase, where the correlation coefficient becomes very close, but not equal, to unity. We then consider four consequences of strong pressure-energy correlations: (1) analyzing experimental data for supercritical Ar we find 96% correlation; (2) we discuss the significance acquired by the correlations for viscous van der Waals liquids approaching the glass transition: For strongly correlating viscous liquids knowledge of just one of the eight frequency-dependent thermoviscoelastic response functions basically implies knowledge of them all; (3) we re-interpret aging simulations of ortho-terphenyl carried out by Mossa {\it et al.} in 2002, showing their conclusions follow from the strongly correlating property; and (4) we discuss correlations in model biomembranes.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2008

Density scaling as a property of strongly correlating viscous liquids

We address a recent conjecture according to which the relaxation time $τ$ of a viscous liquid obeys density scaling ($τ=F(ρ^γ/T)$ where $ρ$ is density) if the liquid is ``strongly correlating,'' i.e., has almost 100% correlation between equilibrium virial and potential-energy fluctuations [Pedersen {\it et al.}, PRL {\bf 100}, 011201 (2008)]. Computer simulations of two model liquids - an asymmetric dumbbell model and the Lewis-Wahnström OTP model - confirm the conjecture and demonstrate that the scaling exponent $γ$ can be accurately predicted from equilibrium fluctuations.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2008

Crystallization of the Kob-Andersen binary Lennard-Jones liquid

At density 1.2 the Kob-Andersen binary Lennard-Jones liquid partly crystallizes in the temperature interval [0.39, 0.44] after typically 10-100 microseconds (Argon units). The crystallization is initiated by a phase separation where the large (A) particles cluster in a volume void of B particles. We investigate a modification of the Kob-Andersen system where the attraction between particles of the same type is removed, thus disfavoring phase separation. We have not been able to crystallize this new system.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2007

Glass-forming liquids: One or more "order" parameters?

We first summarize the classical arguments that the vast majority of glass-forming liquids require more than one "order" parameter for their description. Critiques against this conventional wisdom are then presented, and it is argued that the matter deserves to be reconsidered in light of recent experimental developments. Out of the eight basic thermoviscoelastic frequency-dependent response functions, there are generally three independent functions. For stochastic dynamics we show that there are only two independent response functions; for this case it is shown how analytic continuation may be utilized to express the third response functions in terms of two others. Operational criteria are presented for the linear thermoviscoelasticity being described by a single "order" parameter, in which case there is just one independent thermoviscoelastic response function. It is shown that a single "order" parameter description applies to a good approximation whenever thermal equilibrium fluctuations of fundamental variables like energy and pressure are strongly correlated. Results from computer simulations showing that this is the case for a number of simple glass-forming liquids, as well as a few exceptions, are briefly presented. Finally, we discuss a new conjecture according to which experiments at varying temperature and pressure follow the density-scaling expression for the relaxation time, $τ=F(ρ^x/T)$ ($ρ$ and $T$ are density and temperature), if and only if the liquid is "strongly correlating," i.e., to a good approximation is described by a single "order" parameter.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2007

Feasibility of single-order parameter description of equilibrium viscous liquid dynamics

Molecular dynamics results for the dynamic Prigogine-Defay ratio are presented for two glass-forming liquids, thus evaluating the experimentally relevant quantity for testing whether metastable-equilibrium liquid dynamics to a good approximation are described by a single parameter. For the Kob-Andersen binary Lennard-Jones mixture as well as for an asymmetric dumbbell model liquid a single-parameter description works quite well. This is confirmed by time-domain results where it is found that energy and pressure fluctuations are strongly correlated on the alpha-time scale in the NVT ensemble; in the NpT ensemble energy and volume fluctuations similarly correlate strongly.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2007

Strong pressure-energy correlations in van der Waals liquids

Strong correlations between equilibrium fluctuations of the configurational parts of pressure and energy are found in the Lennard-Jones liquid and other simple liquids, but not in hydrogen-bonding liquids like methanol and water. The correlations, that are present also in the crystal and glass phases, reflect an effective inverse power-law repulsive potential dominating fluctuations, even at zero and slightly negative pressure. In experimental data for supercritical Argon, the correlations are found to be approximately 96%. Consequences for viscous liquid dynamics are discussed.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2007

Volume-energy correlations in the slow degrees of freedom of computer-simulated phospholipid membranes

Constant-pressure molecular-dynamics simulations of phospholipid membranes in the fluid phase reveal strong correlations between equilibrium fluctuations of volume and energy on the nanosecond time-scale. The existence of strong volume-energy correlations was previously deduced indirectly by Heimburg from experiments focusing on the phase transition between the fluid and the ordered gel phases. The correlations, which are reported here for three different membranes (DMPC, DMPS-Na, and DMPSH), have volume-energy correlation coefficients ranging from 0.81 to 0.89. The DMPC membrane was studied at two temperatures showing that the correlation coefficient increases as the phase transition is approached.

physics.bio-ph↗

arXiv2007

Crystallization of the Wahnström Binary Lennard-Jones Liquid

We report observation of crystallization of the glass-forming binary Lennard-Jones liquid first used by Wahnström [G. Wahnström, Phys. Rev. A 44, 3752 (1991)]. Molecular dynamics simulations of the metastable liquid on a timescale of microseconds were performed. The liquid crystallized spontaneously. The crystal structure was identified as MgZn_2. Formation of transient crystallites is observed in the liquid. The crystallization is investigate at different temperatures and compositions. At high temperature the rate of crystallite formation is the limiting factor, while at low temperature the limiting factor is growth rate. The melting temperature of the crystal is estimated to be T_m=0.93 at rho=0.82. The maximum crystallization rate of the A_2B composition is T=0.60+/-0.02.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗